Lubricator pump



Feb. 21, 5 CLAPP ET AL LUBRICATOR PUMP FledOct. 26, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet l THE ATTORNEYS Feb. 2l, 1933. K s, CLAPP ET AL 1,898,815

` LUBRICATOR PUMP Filed Oct. 26, 1929 3 Sheets-.sheet 2 31u/vanto@ Feb; 21, 1933. K. `s. cLAPP ET AL 1,898,815

' LUBRICATOR PUMP Fileduocp 26. 1929 3 sheets-sheet a ln/vendor,

.Patented Feb. 21, 1933 UNITED STATESIPATET OFFICE KENNETH s. CLAPP AND THEoDonE H. EIcxHoFF, oF CLEVELAND, omo

LUBRIGATOB. PUMP y Application med october' 2e, was. serial No. `-`402,768.

This invention in its broader aspects, re-v lates to apparatus and a method for moving iiuent`materials in situations where the final delivery must be under lconsiderable pressure. In certain embodiments 1t 1s of par'-` ticular value in the handling of plastic compositions, although not inapp nids, and has among its objects the provision l licable to liqof apparatus of this, nature which will be simplein construction, durable and dependable in service, ,capable of being economically built and operated, and a substantial advance Y in the art.

The present application is a continuation in part of pending application Serial No. 301,053, filed-August 21, 1928, by Kenneth S. Clapp; and application, Serial No. 350,561, Jfiled August 21, 1928, by Kenneth S. Clapp and Theodore H. Eickhoif.

Specifically, the yinvention as hereinafter .described contemplates two interdependent stages for moving lubricant material, the first or primary stage of such means including a' v conveying screw rotatable in a housing at the bottom of a reservoir, this screw being associated with -the apparatus of the secondary stage, which takes the lubricant from the conveyor and drives it to its destination.' `For 3 4convenience the apparatus for accomplishlng the rst stage is termed feeding means, and

that for the second stage is c means, although some latitude alled pressure is necessary 1n the interpretation of these terms, for the reason that Vcertain of the elements' of our invention may be common to both stages.

When used as a lubricator our invention may be conveniently constructed in the form of a lubficant reservoir,.the bo ttom of which constitutes a housing forthe feeding and pressure means. This reservo ir bottom and a driving element, which may conveniently be a single bed paratus is to be made/portable. A. `)referred embodiment of an electric motor, are preferably mounted on plate, and this in turn maybe supported upon a wheeled frame our invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings,

- wherein Fig. 1 is a side elevation of th paratus in a portable form;

e complete ap- 3 3 of Fig. 2.

' includes a bed plate 10, suitably`m`ounted iffthe ap-` or otherwise,

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal section showing part ofthe reservoir, screw casing and primary pressure chamber; and a fragment of the screw conveyor together with the secondarypressure apparatus;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line Fig. 4 isa fragmentary longitudinal vsection through the packing gland and thrust for the conveyor screw.

Fig. 5 is a plan view' of the piston crosshead. l Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of another embodiment of our invention.

Referring now particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, the present embodiment of-our invention on wheels 11; ax lubricant reservoir 12 and '70 motor 13 being secured to the bed plate. The reservoir 12 is herein shown as a rectangular tank having a base 14 in the form of a casting supported by legs 15. A flexible conduit 1,6 conveys lubricant to the point of application, and a flexible cable 17 connects the motor to a suitablesource of current.

r1 he reservoir may -conveniently comprise sheet metal sides 18 held down to the base 14 by hooked tie rods 19, the bottoms of the sides surrounding an 4interior base flange 20 and being clamped there to by straps 21. In

lthe form shown. tool boxes 22 are fastened to each side of the reservoir to provide convnient holding places for wrenches, spare .fittings and similar articles.

A cover 23 as shown is centrally apertured 4for the passage of a gauge rod 24, thel top of which is finished with a sturdy handle 25 so that the. cover and a follower plate 26 are always removed together. This plate 26 is a heavyrpiece of metal, with the gauge rod 24 secured to its center. The gauge rod may be conveniently graduated in pounds as is most desirable. The plate 26 is adapted to lie upon the material in the lreservoir in such a manner that the material will always fall evenly without air pockets forming therein.

The bottom 30 of the base 14, may slope v a hub 38 of the same down to a median line, below which a lengthwise lubricant channel in the nature o f a tube 31, open along most of its upper side, crosses the bottom. Thus the lubricant ows b its own weight and that of the follower late 26 into the channel 31, in which it is Eneaded and stirred and through which it iscarried by a screw conveyor 32 into the chamber 33. l

Referring particularly to Figs. 2 and 4 1t will be seen that the screw channel 31 is closed on all but the upper part of its circumference.

At the other side of the opening, the bottom of the reservoir is also carried somewhat over the screw channel, so as to retard any tendency of the rease to work up and out of the channel orming together with the screws a primary compression mechanism.

The feed screw 32 comprises a coarse pitched thread 36, having a suiicient edge to provide a bearing surface around a central shaft 37. The rear end of this shaft carries diameter as the thread. The shaft extends rearwardly beyond lthe base, terminatingin a connection to the power shaft. The hub 38 rotates in a bore of suitable diameter in a rearward extension 39 of the screw channel and bears at its end against a shoulder 40 in the'bottom of the bore, thus sustaining the end thrust of the conveyor 32. The rear extension of the shaft 37 passes out through a grease-tight stuing box 41. The forward end of the screw shaft is journaled in a bearing 42 carried by the cover plate 43 which is secured to the end of the channel 31 by screws 44.

A housing 50 is screw-threaded on the end of the channel 31 and includes a c lindrical chamber 45 which ali ns with the c annel 31. The end of the cham er is closed b an end plate 43 which has a bearing 42 a apted to rotatably support the end of the shaft 32.

The housing is rovided withpa downwardly extending tubular member 51, which houses the ultimate pressure mechanism,

--which is provided with progressively reduced cylindrical chambers 52 and 53.

The secondary pressure mechanism consists of a pump, which includes a hollow piston 47, ada ted to be reciprocated in the reduced cylin rical chamber 53, by a cross head 49 and connecting rod 48. The connectin rod is mounted on an eccentric cam 54 which is carried by the shaft 32 spaced from the end. The. cam 54 may also be formed integral with the shaft 32.

The cross head is slotted at 56 into which the end of the connecting rod 48 is pivotally secured 'by a pin 55, and is adapted to be reciprocated in the chamber 52. A plurality of channels 90 are provided on the cross head which eliminates any wise might be caused by the reciprocation of the cross head. The remaining semi-cylindrical portions 91 of the channel are guide tained within the enlarged bore pressure in,

pressure which other d the switch 80 which is ber 57 is screw-threaded to receive the piston- 47 A ball valve 59 is disposed in the chamber 57 and adapted to seat under certain conditions later more fully described, against the converging end walls leading to the duct 58 to seal the same.

zI'he piston 47 which fits snugly within the chamber 53, includes a bored cylinder having a threaded end 60 to engxige the threads of the cross head. A pair o attened surfaces 61 are provided to which a suitable wrench may be ap lied for screwing the same into the cross ead.

The end of the extension 57 is provided with an inwardly extending threaded annular flange 62 which receives a flanged coupling 63. The coupling 63 has a duct 64 and an enlarged bore 65. A ball valve 66 is reby a ni ple 67 which is screw-threaded into the end o the coupling and is ada ted to close the openin to the duct 64, under certain conditions.

he flexible conduit 16 may be secured to the end of the nipple 69 by a suitable clamp 20.

I find that a device constructed as described is particularly eilicient in dispensing extremely viscous and plastic lubricants which are ordinarily unmanageable when used in the type 0f grease dispensing devices-commonly 1n use.

. In operation the lubricant is placed in the reservoir 12 and the cover replaced in such a manner that the plate 26 rides on top of the lubricant. The lubricant will descend into the channel 31 where it is thorou hly mixed and conveyed bythe screw 32, w ich is rotated by the motor 13, into the primary chamber at the end of the channel 31. The lubricant is placed under suiiieient constant the primary pressure chamber, so that when the cross head reciprocates, the lubricant is forced throu h the slot 56.in the cross head and through tflie duct 48, into the chamber'57 and bore of the piston 47. This occurs on the upward stroke of the piston.

On the downward stroke the ball valve 59 is moved by the lubricant flow, closing the duct 58, preventing escape of the lubrlcant from the chamber 57 and bore of the piston. Continued operation causes the lubricant .to flow through the piston into the chamber 53 where it is expelled through the coupling 63 and nipple 69 into the dispensing hose 16. The lubricant is prevented from returning to the chamber 53 on the upward stroke of the piston by the ball valve 66 which closes the duct 64.

The pumping operation is controlled by disposed on the end of plingsV upon the part to belubri'cat contact with the receiving coupling and operates the switch to start the motor through few pounds and several thousand.

the completion of the nelectrical circuit by way o'ffthecable 82. j

It will be understood that other` fittings might be substituted for the nozzle 81, ac-

cording to the nature of the material to be handled. For example, it islwithin the purview of this invention to usev our apparatus for applying paint, whitewash, insecticides, putty, and the like, inasmuch as the conveyor, either with or without an enclosure along its entire length, keeps thev material uniformly mixed. For such use a suitable spray nozzle or the like would of course be provided.

A reli-efduct and valve may be provided for bi-passirig excess fluid pressure back into the chamber 45 and includes a passage 92 in communication with` the chamber 45 and connected to the lower end 53 of the pressure chamber. An adjustable ball valve 93 is in'- terposed in the duct maintainingthe passage 92 closed to the chamber 53. The'pressure atwhich the valve may bi-pass the fluid determined by a thumb screw 95 and helical spring 94 which normally holds the -valve in a closed position. rlhe relief valve eliminates thechance of rupture of any of the 35 parts such as the conduit i6 should an unusually large pessure be built up by failure of the fluid to pass through thepart which is being lubricated. ,x

Although a'certain amountof pressure is built up in the primary pressure chamber I by-the screw conveyor, it may bereadily seen that such a pressure is'limited, but is sufficient to feed the same intov the chamber where it is-picked' up by thesecondary pressure means, sometimes 'called a booster and delivered under extremely high pressure,I depending upon the amount of restriction encountered by the lubricant iiow. The pres- .su-re may vary as before stated depending between aA upon any restriction encountered It'may be readily seen, that in a device of the class described, that each element is dependent upon the other for the-efficient operat'ion, the conveyor screw supplying the lubricant constant pressure to a chamber where it is picked up and fed forward/under pressure.

In Fig. 6 another embodiment of vour invention has been illustrated which is quite similar to that of the preceding embodiment except that the connecting rod has been eliminated;` `In this instance the booster mechanism 'of theprior embodiment has been replaced by a crosshead 101 which'is adapted to bear against the eccentric or cam 54 and is retained in spring pressed relation against,

ner to the priorzfembodiment as the cam 54 the cam' by a helical spring 102 which is disposed about the piston 103 with one end duct 58 and chamber' 57 in the cross head.

A ballvalve 59 may be provided for a similar purpose to that-previously described. The

piston 103 is substantially the same asnthat used in the other embodiment except that it may be made longer and the cross head shorter to accommodatelthe spring 102.

The mechanism toperates in a similar manpresses the cross head with lthe pistondownward against the pressure of the spring 102 at one stage of the cycle and allows the same ,to return at the other stage. On the downward. stroke the lubricant or material is pushed out of the chamber 53 into the conduit 16 and the constant Huid iiow into the chamber 45 maintains the same full of lubricant. On the upward stroke the crosshead is forced into the lubricant and the lubricant into the cross head past the valve 57 after which the downward stroke causes the valve 57 and the cycle is continued as described. l

Having thus described our invention in embodiments thereof, we are aware that numerous and extensivel departures maybe made therefrom without, however, departing, from the spirit thereof. L

We claim.: l l

1. In a lubricating device, a container,'

means to remove lubricant therefrom including a screw conveyor and a booster operated by the end of the conveyor, the booster inclluding a piston pump, a cam and connecting rod supported by said conveyor to operate said pump.

'2. In a` lubricating device a container,

means to remove lubricant therefrom'includfing a` screw conveyor and a booster operated by the end of the conveyor, a chamber at ,the end of the conveyor, a piston in the chamber,

a duct i-n the piston, a valve in the duct, a cam on the conveyor and a connecting rod on the cam connected to the piston.

' 3. In a lubricating device, a lubricant cone tainer means to dispense lubricant therefrom including a screw conveyor disposed in a 'channel at the lower end of the container and a motor to drive the conveyor, a booster mechanism in juxtaposed relation to the conv veyor `and driven thereby, said booster including a. housing on the end of the conveyor chamber, an eccentric on the end ofthe con-- veyor, a connecting rod thereon, a booster chamber extending angularly from the hous- 1 15. a dispensing tube secure-d to said nipple and said booster comprising a ing and having progressively reduced cylindrical bores, a cross head and a piston disposed in said bores said cross head being pivotally connected to said connecting rod and operating with larger cylindrical chamber and being provided with a duct and a chamber, said duct being in communication with said housing and a valve in said chamber to close said duct, said piston comprising a bored cylindrical member screw-threaded into said cross-head adapted to reciprocate in the smaller cylindrical bore, a coupling disposed in the end o f said angular booster' chamber provided with a valve and a nipple,

a dis ensing nozzle on the end of said tube.

4. n a dispensing device, a reservoir adapted to contain a quantity of material, screw conveyor means for removing material from the lower portionl of the reservoir, means to maintain the remaining material level, and a cam operated booster drivenby saidl removing means to provide apositive pressure for dispensing the material.

5. In a lubricating device, a lubricant reservoir, means to dispense lubricant therefroml including a yscrew conveyor and a booster in interdependent relation to each other, said booster including a hollowpiston and a hollow cross head, al checkV valve in said cross in the bottom of the reservoir, means c0.- operating withl the conveyor to increase pressure upon the material conveyed thereb' cluding a crank and pitman carried `an operated by' the conveyor a. iston secured to vthe pitman and a cylin er4 or 4the piston and a valve disposed in the piston to permit mate'rial to flow in one direction past the valve and an outlet in-v the cylinder.

`9. In a dispensing device, a reservoir, a channel lin the bottom of' said reservoir, a longitudinal shaft rotatable therein, a screw conveyorv secured to said lshaft and disposed within' said, channel, said eccentric portion, a connecting rod mounte on said eccentric portion,.a booster pump having a chamber communicating with said channel for ej ecting material moved by said corive'yor screw'operated by said connecting ro 4 our signatures this 16th day of October, 1929.

KENNETH'S CLAPP. i THEODORE EICKI-IOFF.

head, a cam on said conveyor to actuate said piston and means to maintain said piston and cross head in operative relation to said cam. A

6. In a lubricating device including a luv bricant reservoir and means to dispense lubricant therefrom comprising a screw conveyor disposed in a channel at the lower end of the reservoir and a booster mechanism interdependably associated with said conveyor,

piston and a cross head carried thereby, a camon said conveyor for actuating said piston and means to maintain said cross head in operative relation with said cam and a follower plate adapted to rest upon the lubricant in the reservoir to prevent the formation of air pockets in the lubricant and cause the same to descend with the fluid level throughout its upper surface.

7. In a lubricating device including a lu-v bricant therefrom compris-ing a .screw conveyor disposed in a channel at the lower end of the reservolr and a booster mechanism iny terdependably associated' Withsaid conveyor, said booster comprising a piston and a cross head carried thereby, a cam on said conveyor for actuating said piston and means to maintain said cross head in operative relation with said cam and a follower plate adapted to rest upon the lubricant in the reservoir to cause the lubricant to descend vwith the fluid level throughout its upper'suri'ace.

8. In a device for dispensing fluent materials, a reservoir, a screw conveyor disposed to dispense lu- In testimony4 whereof wel hereunto aix 4shaft having an f 

